Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Energy Expenditure in Healthy Adults.docVIP

Sensors 2011, 11, 1932-1942; doi:10.3390/s110201932 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Article Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Energy Expenditure in Healthy Adults Miao-Ju Hsu 1,2, Shun-Hwa Wei 3 and Ya-Ju Chang 4,* 1 Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; E-Mail: mjhsu@.tw 2 Department of Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 3 Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; E-Mail: shunhwa@.tw 4 Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: yjchang@.tw; Tel.: +886-3-2118800-5515; Fax: +886-3-2118421. Received: 10 January 2011; in revised form: 25 January 2011 / Accepted: 30 January 2011 / Published: 1 February 2011 Abstract: Weight loss/weight control is a major concern in prevention of cardiovascular disease and the realm of health promotion. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) at different intensities on energy expenditure (oxygen and calories) in healthy adults. The secondary aim was to develop a generalized linear regression (GEE) model to predict the increase of energy expenditure facilitated by NMES and identify factors (NMES stimulation intensity level, age, body mass index, weight, body fat percentage, waist/hip ratio, and gender) associated with this NMES-induced increase of energy expenditure. Forty sedentary healthy adults (18 males and 22 females) participated. NMES was given at the following stimulation intensities for 10 minutes each: sensory level (E1), motor threshold (E2), and maximal intensity comfortably tolerated (E3). Cardiopulmonary gas exchange was evaluated during rest, NME